ABSTRACT Feed costs are the main limiting factors in poultry industry and alternative sources of food and/or feed supplements to optimize the bird´s life cycle and to extend their production period need to be explored. This study evaluated morphometric parameters of the small intestine and gonadotropin transcript levels in Isa Brown laying hens supplemented with glutamine + glutamic acid (Aminogut®) during a second production cycle. Molting was induced and groups of 100 hens each, were supplemented with 0, 0.8, 1.6 or 2.4% Aminogut® in their diet. At the end of the experimental period, tissue sections from duodenum, jejunum and ileum were processed by the Hematoxylin-Eosin technique and samples from hypothalamus and hypophysis were collected for RT-PCR analysis of GnRH and GnRHR transcript levels. As results, the height of the intestinal villi of the duodenum and ileum was significantly (p<0.05) higher in hens supplemented with 0.8% and 1.6% Aminogut®, while in the jejunum, no significant differences were found. Hens treated with increased doses of Aminogut® tended to increase GnRH transcripts levels, whereas those of GnRHR tended to decrease proportionally. It is concluded that supplementation of Isa Brown laying hens during a second production cycle with Aminogut® developed increased villus height in duodenum and ileum that may promote better absorption of nutrients and potentially to increase the egg production. This study shows the importance of molecular techniques such as RT-PCR to support the biological effects of nutritional compounds on morphological parameters and hen productivity.

Considering that infant mortality indicates the levels of health in the population, we have accomplished the foolwing work, which goals were to identify the causes of infanty mortality during the year of 1998 in Botucatu. The rate of infanty mortality obtained was as much as 12/1000born alive with greater participation of the neonatal deaths - 8,311000 born alive. Though most of dealths can be classified as reducible or partially reducible, but the necessary attentionto make such reduction possible has varied. All the deaths that have occurred, 21,7% were classified as unavoidable, emphasizing that to reduce the rates of infant mortality, we must continue investing on the quality of health assistance as well as on the improvement of life conditions of the population.

Considerando que la mortalidad infantil es indicador de los niveles de salud de la población, hemos realizado este trabajo, cuyo objetivo fue identificar las causas de mortalidad infantil en el año de 1998 en Botucatu. El coeficiente de mortalidad infantil obtenido fue 12/1000 NV, con mayor participación de los óbitos neonatales - 8,3/1000 NV. La mayor parte de los óbitos fue clarificada como reductible o parcialmente reductible, pero la atención necesaria para viabilizar tal reducción fue variada. De los óbitos ocurridos, el 21,7% Bran inevitables, evidenciando que para reducción de los índices de mortalidad infantil deberemos seguir invirtiendo en la calidad de la asistencia a la salud y mejora de las condiciones de vida de la población.

Considerando que a mortalidade infantil é indicador dos níveis de saúde da população, realizamos este trabalho, cujo objetivo foi identificar as causas de mortalidade infantil no ano de 1998 em Botucatu. O coeficiente de mortalidade infantil obtido foi 12/1000 NV, com maior participação dos óbitos neonatais - 8,3/1000 NV A maior parte dos óbitos foi classificada como reduzível ou parcialmente reduzível, mas a atenção necessária para viabilizar tal redução foi variada. Dos óbitos ocorridos, 21,7% eram inevitáveis, evidenciando que para redução dos índices de mortalidade infantil deveremos continuar investindo na qualidade da assistência à saúde e melhoria das condições de vida da população.

Considerando que a mortalidade infantil é indicador dos níveis de saúde da população, realizamos este trabalho, cujo objetivo foi identificar as causas de mortalidade infantil no ano de 1998 em Botucatu. O coeficiente de mortalidade infantil obtido foi 12/1000 NV, com maior participação dos óbitos neonatais - 8,3/1000 NV A maior parte dos óbitos foi classificada como reduzível ou parcialmente reduzível, mas a atenção necessária para viabilizar tal redução foi variada. Dos óbitos ocorridos, 21,7% eram inevitáveis, evidenciando que para redução dos índices de mortalidade infantil deveremos continuar investindo na qualidade da assistência à saúde e melhoria das condições de vida da população.

Considering that infant mortality indicates the levels of health in the population, we have accomplished the foolwing work, which goals were to identify the causes of infanty mortality during the year of 1998 in Botucatu. The rate of infanty mortality obtained was as much as 12/1000born alive with greater participation of the neonatal deaths - 8,311000 born alive. Though most of dealths can be classified as reducible or partially reducible, but the necessary attentionto make such reduction possible has varied. All the deaths that have occurred, 21,7% were classified as unavoidable, emphasizing that to reduce the rates of infant mortality, we must continue investing on the quality of health assistance as well as on the improvement of life conditions of the population.

Considerando que la mortalidad infantil es indicador de los niveles de salud de la población, hemos realizado este trabajo, cuyo objetivo fue identificar las causas de mortalidad infantil en el año de 1998 en Botucatu. El coeficiente de mortalidad infantil obtenido fue 12/1000 NV, con mayor participación de los óbitos neonatales - 8,3/1000 NV. La mayor parte de los óbitos fue clarificada como reductible o parcialmente reductible, pero la atención necesaria para viabilizar tal reducción fue variada. De los óbitos ocurridos, el 21,7% Bran inevitables, evidenciando que para reducción de los índices de mortalidad infantil deberemos seguir invirtiendo en la calidad de la asistencia a la salud y mejora de las condiciones de vida de la población.